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Nov. 11, 1930. F. F. DORSEY ET AL 17,853

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM v Original Filed June 4, 1923 amen Wow;

MZZZ; M 55 4 7257 m? Reismecl Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEI'ARNUI F. DORSEY, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND CHESTER W. CRUMRINE,OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NORTH EASTAPPLIANCE CORPORATION, OF ROCHESTER, ,NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK POWER-TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Orirlnal application filed June 4,1928, Serial No. 643,231. Renewed December 9, 1925. Original No.

1,580,150, dated June 22, 1926. Application for reissue filed April 11,1930. Serial No. 443,570.

This invention relates to power-transmission mechanism used to connectan internalcombustion engine temporarily with a primemover, such as anelectric motor, for the purpose of cranking or starting the engine. Forthe purpose in question it is common to use a pinion movable, in thedirection of its axis, into and out of mesh with a gearwheel connectedwith the crank-shaft of the engine, and to shift this pinion bymanuallyoperable means. In so shifting the pinion it often ha pens thatthe teeth fail to mesh, by reason direct engagement of the ends of theteeth, and in such case it is necessary to impart a partial rotation tothe pinion to bring its teeth into line with the toothspacers in thegear. 7

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a gear, ofthe type just referred to, with simple and effective means for rotatingthe pinion for the purpose aforesaid. Another object of the invention isto produce a mechanism of simple and compact construction, andparticularly to embody therein an overruning clutch to prevent themechanism from transmitting rotation from the gear to the motor.

The means by which these objects are attained are set forth hereinafter,and the invention resides in these means as defined in the succeedingclaims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a partly diaammatic side-elevation of anengine startlng outfit embodying the present invention, with thepower-transmission mechanism in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is aside-elevation of the power-transmission mechanism. Fi 3 is across-section of the mechanism on a p ane passing through the clutch.Figs. 4 and 5 are end-elevations of the power-transmission mechanism.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a system in which anelectric motor furnishes power for cranking an engine. Thearmature-shaft 11 of the motor carries a pinion 12 which is shifted intoand out of mesh with a ear-ring 13 carried by the flywheel 14 of t eengine.

The end of the shaft 11 is splined, and the inner member 15 of aroller-wedge clutch is fixed thereon by a nut 18. Spring-pressed rollers17 working in sockets in the clutchmember 15, cooperate with the outerclutch member 16 in the usual manner. The movements of the pinion 12 arecontrolled through a shifting-sleeve 19 which embraces the outerclutch-member. This sleeve has four helical slots 20, which are engagedby integral projections 21 on the outer clutch-member. The left-hand endof the sleeve is partially closed in and is provided with teeth 22 whichfit loosely between the teeth of the pinion. A flange 23 on the innerend of the pinion prevents the sleeve from withdrawing from engagementwith the pinion.

Aspring 24 is enclosed within the sleeve, and it rests at one end,against four integral lugs 25 bent inwardly on the'sleeve at the ends ofthe slots 20. The other end of the spring presses against the end of thepinion, and thus normally retains the pinion in the osition shown, inwhich it is projected fully rom the sleeve.

The outer end of the sleeve is closed by a plate 26, secured in place bytangs 27 on the sleeve. These tangs pass through slots in the plate andare secured by cotters. A spring 28, interposed between the plate 26 andthe clutch, tends to hold the plate and the sleeve in the positionshown, at the right-hand limit of their movement and with the piniondisengaged from the gear.

Operation of the mechanism is accomplished through a lever-arm 29 fixedto a rock-shaft 30, which may be turned in any suitable manner, when theengine is to be started, in a direction to press the arm against theplate 26 and force the sleeve to the left.

The motor 10 is supplied with current from a battery 31, and the circuitis controlled by a switch 32. This switch is shown, diagrammatically, inposition to be engaged and closed by the arm 29 as the arm completes itsoperative movement.

.The mechanism operates as follows: when the arm 29 swings to the leftthe sleeve is moved axially with respect to the clutch, and theprojections 21 traverse the slots 20. Since the motor is at this timestationary, the projections impart a slight rotative movement torotation to the motor-shaft. The rotating-- movement ofthe pinion isthus yielding in character, owing to the fact that it occurs with atorque limited by the frictional resistance r to rotation of themotor-shaft.

i so the spring 24. The-movement of the sleeve As the movement ofthe'shifting-sleeve is completedthe switch 32 is closed, and" the motorstarts. When the engine starts the rapid rotation imparted from it tothe pinion is transmitted to the sleeve and the outer clutchmember,butthe latter overruns on the roll ers of the clutch and to'the motor.

When the sleeve is shifted, as above described, to engagethe pinion withthe gear, if the ends of the gear-teeth collide the axial movement ofthe pinion is arrested, as it is imparted to the pinion yieldingly,through no rotation is imparted continues, however, since the teeth 22can slide along the pinion. Accordingly, the sleeve continues to rotateand to turn the pinion, so that presently the pinion-teeth are broughtto meshing position. Thereupon the spring 24 expands and forces thepinion quickly into mesh, and the operations are continued as beforedescribed.

As soon as the engine starts the arm 29- ma y be swung back tonormalposition. This permits the spring 28 to expand and draw the sleeve andthe pinion back to idle position, while the switch 32 is opened and themotor stops.

We are aware that mechanisms of the type in question have beenpreviously proposed, in which rotation and axial movement are bothimparted manually to the pinion, but such previous mechanisms have beenarranged to impart only axial movement to the pinion unless and until itis arrested by engagement with the gear, and thereafter to rot'ate thepinion in consequence of such engagement. The present construction isnovel in the respect that in it axial movement and rotation of thepinion occur simultaneously unless and until the axial movement isarrested, and that relative rotation of the pinion and the motor-shaftoccur throughout the shifting operation.

' The invention claimed is:

1. Power transmission mechanism comprising: a. gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear;

and manually-operable means for simultaneously rotating said pinion andmoving it axially, said means being yieldable as to each of such motionsso that either ma continue alone when the other is arreste' 2.Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into-:mesh with the gear; yielding 'Ineans forrotatingthe pinion; yielding means for moving the pinion axiallyyandmanually-operable means for actuating both said yielding meanssimultaneously.

3. Power-transmission. mechanism comprisingyin combinationwithua gearand a motor-driven shaft, a pinion slidable, upon said shaft, into meshwith said gear; an overrunning clutch, for imparting rotation from saidshaft to said pinion; means for imparting, yieldingly, said' slidingmove ment to the pinion; and mechanism, includ-,'

ing said'clutch, for producing positive relative rotation of the pinionand the shaft throughout the operation of said means.

4-. Power-transmission mechanism comprising, in combination with a'gearand a motor-driven shaft, a pinionslidabla'upon said shaft, into meshwith said'sgear; an overrunning clutch on the shaft; a shiftingmemberhaving positive connection with the pinion for rotating the pinion andyielding connection with the pinion for sliding the pinion on the shaft;helical connections between the shifting member and the clutch forproducing positive relative rotation of said member and the shaft duringmovement of the shifting member; and means for moving theshiftingmember'in a direction to mesh the pinion with the gear.

5. Power-transmission mechanism comprising, in combination with a gearand a motor-driven shaft, a pinion slidable, upon said shaft, into meshwith said: gear; an overrunning clutch of which onepmember is fixed tothe shaft; a shifting-sleeve coaxial with the shaft and embracing theclutch, saidsleeve having a straight spline connection with the pinionand a helical spline connection with the outer clutch-member; a springinterposed between the sleeve and the pinion for imparting yieldin'glyaxial movement from thesleeve to the pinion; and means for moving thesleeve axially in opposite 'direm tions withtrespect to the shaft. 6.Power-transmission mechanism' as defined in claim 5, in which thelast-mentioned means comprises a spring enclosed within the sleeve andacting, between the shaft and the sleeve, to move the latter in adirection to cause disengagement of the pinion and the gear.

7 Power-transmission mechanism comprising; a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft for drivingthe pinion and upon which the pin-ion is mounted to slide; a rotatablemember movable along the shaft and having connections therewith suchthat axial movement of the member is accompanied by rotary movement;connections for impartmg rotation from said member to said pinion whilepermitting relative axial movement between them; a spring for holdingthe pinion extended from said member; and manually operable means formoving said member.

8. Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft for drivingthe pinion and upon which the pinion is mounted to slide; a rotatablemember movable along the shaft and having an oblique spline connectionwith the shaft and having a longitudinal spline connection with thepinion; a spring for holding the pinion extended from said member; andmanually operable means for moving said member.

9. Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft for drivingthe pinion and upon which the pinion is mounted to slide; a sleeveslidable along the shaft and having an oblique spline connection withthe shaft and having a longitudinal spline connection with the pinion; aspring enclosed by the sleeve for holding the pinion extended fromthe'sleeve and manually operable means for moving the sleeve.

10. Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft upon whichthe pinion is mounted to slide; a torque transmitting connection betweenthe shaft and pinion and including a member having an oblique splineconnection with the shaft and a longitudinal spline connection with thepinion; a spring for holding the pinion extended from said member; andmanually operable means for moving said member.

11. Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft upon whichthe pinion is mounted to slide; a torque transmitting connection betweenthe shaft and pinion and including a sleeve having an oblique splineconnection with the shaft and a longitudinal spline connection with thepinion; a spring enclosed by the sleeve for holding the pinion extendedfrom the sleeve and manually operable means for movnig the sleeve.

12. Power-transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft for drivingthe pinion and upon which the pinion is mounted to slide; a rotatablemember movable along the shaft and having connections therewith suchthat axial movement of the member is accompanied by rotary movement;connections between said member and the teeth of the pinion forimparting rotation from said member to the pinion while permittingrelative axial movement between them; a spring for holding the pinionextendied from said member; and manually operable means for moving saidmember.

13. Power transmission mechanism comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially into and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft for drivingthe pinion and upon which the pinion is mounted to slide a sleeveslidable along the shaft and having an oblique spline connection withthe shaft and having a longitudinal spline connection with the teeth ofthe pinion; a spring enclosed by the sleeve for holding the pinionextended from the sleeve; and manually operable means for moving thesleeve.

14. Power-transmission mechanism 'comprising: a gear; a driving pinionmovable axially int-o and out of mesh with the gear; a shaft upon whichthe pinion is mounted to slide; a torque transmitting connection betweenthe shaft and pinion and including a sleeve having an oblique splineconnectionwith the shaft and a longitudinal spline connection With theteeth of the pinion; a spring enclosed by the sleeve for holding thepinion extended from the sleeve; and manually oper- 9 able means formoving the sleeve.

In testimony whereof we hereto aflix our signatures.

FARNUM F. DORSEY. CHESTER W. CRUMRINE.

